Running board support



Nov. 3, 1931. c. s. CRAWFORD RUNNING BOARD SUPPORT Filed May 8, 1929 Patented Nov. 3, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENroFFIca CHARLES S. CRAWFORD, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO GEN MOTORS COR- PORATIO-N, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE RUNNING BOARD SUPPORT Application filed May 8, 1929. Serial No. 361,385.

This invention relates to running boards and has particular reference to ameans for securing the running board to the ordinary running board support on an automotive ve- 5 hicle.

In running board constructions of today, the underside of the board usually has secured thereto a plurality of channel members to hold the board together. The channel faces 10 toward the board and its base usually rests directly on the conventional running board supports secured to the chassis frame. In the past, some difficulty and annoyance has been experienced in attaching and detaching the channel members to the supports due to the fact that it was extremely inconvenient to get to the inside of the channel member. The usual bolt which passed through the support and channel member was either inserted from below through the support into the channel member or vice versa. Where the bolt was inserted from below it was found impractical to hold the nut inside the channel member, and where the bolt was first inserted through the channel member and extended downwardly into the support, similar difliculty was experienced in holding the bolt so that a nut could be applied and it was also impractical to remove the bolt. It is an object of 0 the present invention to devise a fastening or securing means which will eliminate the objections of prior constructions and Wlll enable the bolt to be inserted from below and render the nut easy of application.

The object of the invention is accomplished by providing an opening in the side of the channel member opposite the place at which the bolt is to be inserted. The nut, instead of being the usual square or hexagonal one, is formed with an extension so that it is really in the form of a' bar having a threaded opening in its end. This bar is inserted through the opening where it may be held and the bolt screwed into place through the opening. When it is desired to remove the board, the bolt may be unscrewed and the bar withdrawn through the lateral opening.

On the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the chassis of an automotive vehicle, showing the running board applied. 1 Figure 2 is a sectional, detailed view on the line 22 of Figure 1 and showing the in-- running board, there are secured the chan- I nel members 8 provided with, the lateralflanges 10 which abut against the bottom of plan view of the To the chassis there are secur'ed'the 1 the board and which flanges are the means through which the board and channel member are secured together. The flanges may be welded or bolted to the board 6. Each support 4 is preferably of channel shape and has its end tapered as shown at 12 in Figures 2 and 3. Y

As is seen in Figures 1 to 3 inclusive, the

channel members 8 are arranged at the bottom of the board 6 so that they will conform to the supports 4. Both'the channel members 8 and supports 4 have the slotsor openings 14 and 16 respectively which are for the purpose of accomplishing adjustment and receiving a securing bolt 20. The head of the bolt 20 is received in the channel of the sup-r port 4 and is inserted from below and upwardly into the channel of the channel memher 8;

With prior constructions, some difficulty has been experienced in applyinga' nutto the threaded end 22 of the bolt-20, due t-o'the fact that the bolt end is inclosed in the channel and is accessible from the channel ends only. In the present invention, this difficulty is eliminated by providing openings '24 in the side of one of the legs of the U-shaped channel 8. These openings are placed opposite the opening 14 in the base of the channel and are for the purpose of receiving or permitting the insertion of a bar or elongatednut 26, one end of'w'hich is provided with a threaded opening 28 and in which the threaded end 22 of the bolt is adapted to be received. The bar 26 is of a length suiiicient to permit it to project from the side of the channel member 8 so that it may be grasped by the hand, or a suitable tool applied to hold or remove the same. After the bolt has been started in the nut 26, the sides of the openings 24 will hold the nut.

In prior constructions the nut was usually welded to the inside of the channel but in case the threads became stripped it was necessary to retap the nut or remove it entirely and weld a new one in place. The present invention eliminates the difi'iculties of the former construction by making the nut removable and readily replaceable.

A washer 30 and lock washer 32 are interposed between the bolt head and the bottom of the channel 4. When the bolt 20 is tightened it will cause the washer 80 to slightly bendor camber because of the fact that it straddles the slot 16 and the pressure is applied at-the middle. .This camber will prevent the washer from turning by causing the washer to engage with the sides of the slot 16.

From an examination of Figure 2, it will be apparent that it if is desired'to remove the running board 6, the bolts 20 may be unscrewed by the application of a wrench or suitable tool to the bolt head. IVhen the bolt has been unscrewed, the bar 26 may be laterally withdrawn. When all the bolts are removed, the running board may, of course, be bodily withdrawn. The reapplication or securing of the running board in place is believed obvious from the description above given.

I claim:

1. In a securing means for two members, one of which is channel shaped, said channel member having a lateral opening, a bolt passing through both members, and a bar passing through and extending without said opening, said bar having a threaded opening adapted to be engaged by said bolt.

2. In a securing means for two members, one of which is of metal and U-shaped and is provided with an opening in one leg of the U, a bolt passing through both members, anda bar extending through said opening and having a threaded opening adapted to beengaged by said bolt.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

CHARLES S. CRAWFORD. 

